“I honestly do not know what I would be doing if I did not attend this university. SJSU has prepared me to become a better clinician, researcher and partner to others. College definitely goes by very fast, but the memories I have will last a lifetime!”
Congratulations to soon-to-be Lurie College alumni Robby Abarca, who was featured by SJSU as an extraordinary graduate! Read the feature at bit.ly/33CK9i7
Dear Lurie College Students,
First of all, we want to acknowledge your amazing accomplishments this year of online instruction. We have heard so many stories about your commitment and perseverance.
As SJSU Provost Del Casino recently described in an email on Thursday, May 6, with the subject line “Fall 2021 Course Schedule is Live,” we are planning carefully for the Fall 2021 semester and expect to have more updates as we finalize those plans.
We’re sending you this message to share some details for the Lurie College of Education and our programs.
Again, please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Janene Perez
Lurie College Student Success Center Director
janene.perez@sjsu.edu
Marcos Pizarro
Lurie College Associate Dean
marcos.pizarro@sjsu.edu
Shoutout to Communicative Disorders & Sciences Department faculty Nidhi Mahendra, who recently co-published the opinion piece “India Ignited: COVID-19 Second Wave Unleashes Death and Devastation” on Newsweek! Read the opinion piece at bit.ly/3xYX4sL
Our semi-annual SJSU Lurie College of Education Learning Showcase highlights our undergraduate, graduate, credential, and doctoral students while they’re on their journeys to becoming transformative educators, counselors, therapists, school and community leaders under our college’s four priority areas: community-engaged, culturally sustaining, holistic, and interdisciplinary.
Our Spring 2021 Learning Showcase will take place virtually on Friday, May 14, from 4-6:30pm and will include presentations and panels focused on topics such as:
To learn more about each of the sessions and RSVP to attend, visit sjsu.edu/education/showcase.
In recognition of Teacher Appreciation Week, May 3-7, and our Lurie College Founder’s Day, May 4, we are requesting nominations for SJSU alumni who are teachers, counselors, therapists, school, or community leaders and have made a transformative difference in the lives of children, families, and communities for our second annual “Educators of Impact” campaign! Submit a nomination at bit.ly/3eFjy8n
Watch our Lurie College faculty present their research related to diversity, social justice and culturally sustaining pedagogy!
Join us for our next Lurie College Faculty Research Symposium on Thursday, May 6, 12-1pm – RSVP for the Zoom link
Thanks to generous monetary support from alumni and friends, each year Lurie College is able to award current and incoming undergraduate, graduate, credential, and doctoral students with scholarships based on their academic, personal, and professional affiliations, accomplishments, and aspirations. Current and newly-admitted students can apply for these awards through the SJSU scholarship application portal until Saturday, May 1, for the 2021-2022 academic year. Learn more and watch the recording of our scholarships workshop at sjsu.edu/education/financial-aid.
Emancipatory Education Now is a student-led initiative at the SJSU Lurie College of Education that examines what emancipatory education – the critical evaluation of the systems and structures of oppression that maintain the status quo in our educational institutions – looks like in today’s society and advocates for the expansion of emancipatory education research, policies, and practices.
Our co-hosts for the Spring 2021 semester are:
In this episode, Abby leads a dialogue around stereotype threat. The co-hosts shared their insights framed by questions such as:
after watching “The danger of a single story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and reading “How Teachers Can Reduce Stereotype Threat in the Classroom.”
This episode’s call to action: How are you purposefully providing opportunities for those you influence and who influence you to give you a more complete story of who they are? Let’s all build bridges across differences one story at a time.
All of the recordings for this series are available at sjsu.edu/education/emancipatory-education-now. Join us for our final episode on Friday, May 14, at 5:15pm at the Lurie College Learning Showcase. More information coming soon at sjsu.edu/education/showcase.
Hello Lurie College Students!
We hope you’ll be able to join us for this student open forum. We’ll be joined by Dean Heather Lattimer, Associate Dean Marcos Pizarro, and Student Success Center Director Janene Perez. This will be a great opportunity to have any questions or concerns you have addressed.
The Zoom link for this forum was emailed as a Google Calendar invite to your SJSU email accounts. If you won’t be able to attend this event, there will be others later in the semester. Please see below for the full schedule. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to luriecollege@sjsu.edu.
Dear Lurie College Students —
Tuesday’s guilty verdict in Derek Chauvin’s trial provided a small measure of accountability. It offered momentary relief because it affirmed what we had clearly seen with our own eyes but were afraid the justice system would deny – that George Floyd was murdered when a police officer pressed his knee into Mr. Floyd’s neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds, depriving him of the oxygen needed to survive.
But the verdict in this one case – while significant – did not bring true justice. The very fact that it was so uncertain what the verdict would be, despite overwhelming evidence and even testimony from other police officers, demonstrates the depth of racism, white supremacy, and structural injustice in our society. And then the day brought news of yet another police shooting of a Black teenager, Ma’Khia Bryant, in Columbus, Ohio.
In our roles as current or aspiring educators, counselors, therapists, school and community leaders, we need to call out racism in all its forms and we need to acknowledge the pain, anger, frustration, and exhaustion that so many in our community are experiencing in this moment.
Our Lurie College faculty and staff are here for you. If you want to connect, share your experiences, or talk through how to support children and families in your placement sites please reach out to your professors and advisors. You are also encouraged to connect with the team in the Student Success Center; they are a fantastic resource and can point you toward additional campus supports if needed. You’ll find curated collections of helpful resources on our Lurie College Antiracism and Racial Justice Resources webpage as well as on the Learning for Justice and Education Minnesota websites.
Students are invited to join Associate Dean Marcos Pizarro and me at our two upcoming Open Forums on Wednesday, April 28, 3-4pm and Wednesday, May 5, 2-3pm. The information to join each of these forums via Zoom should be available in your SJSU Google Calendars. These forums provide space to be in community together and invite dialogue on how we can better fulfill our Lurie College strategic plan and commitments to racial justice.
As we near the end of a tumultuous and challenging semester, please be generous and patient with one another and yourselves. Reach out and ask for help if needed. Check in on your colleagues. Practice self care and step away from the Zoom screen when you can. We see you, we care about you, we are committed to your success.
In solidarity – Heather
Congratulations to recent Communicative Disorders & Sciences alumni Grace Shefcik, whose thesis “Assessment of Non-binary Individuals’ Self-perception of Voice” was selected for the annual SJSU Outstanding Thesis Award! This award is given by the College of Graduate Studies to one student whose thesis was published in May, August or December of 2020, or provisionally approved for publication in May 2021. The winner of the Outstanding Thesis Award receives $1,000 as well as a special recognition during commencement.
Each spring, SJSU undergraduate students who have earned a 3.65-3.99 grade point average during the previous fall or spring semesters are recognized as Dean’s Scholars for their academic achievements. This semester, we recognized 338 Dean’s Scholars from the Spring 2020 and Fall 2020 semester – an increase of 50% from the previous year!
Join our SJSU Lurie College of Education faculty as they present their research related to diversity, social justice and culturally sustaining pedagogy!
Emancipatory Education Now is a student-led initiative at the SJSU Lurie College of Education that examines what emancipatory education – the critical evaluation of the systems and structures of oppression that maintain the status quo in our educational institutions – looks like in today’s society and advocates for the expansion of emancipatory education research, policies, and practices.
Our co-hosts for the Spring 2021 semester are:
In this episode, Ana leads a dialogue around antiracist education. The co-hosts shared their insights framed by questions such as:
after reading the articles “California schools, universities condemn anti-Asian attacks, offer support to students” by Carolyn Jones and Ashley Smith and “Diversity Work, Interrupted” by Colleen Flaherty and watching the video “6 Ways to be an Antiracist Educator” by Edutopia.
This episode’s call to action: Watch the video “Six Ways to be an Antiracist Educator” and try to implement at least one of those strategies in your classroom. Additionally, since many of these ideas are applicable beyond the classroom, think about what it would look like for you to implement such practices in your daily life. What can you do to combat racism in your community?
Additional Antiracism and Racial Justice resources are available on the Lurie College website at sjsu.edu/education/community/antiracism. All of the recordings for this series are available at http://sjsu.edu/education/emancipatory-education-now
Our new SJSU undergraduate Minor in Transformative Leadership is an interdisciplinary approach to leadership development through engagement with anti-racist pedagogies and practices. By building a foundation and framework for developing an intersectional lens throughout this program, students develop their leadership goals around becoming transformative agents of change in their communities through meaningful, culturally affirming, and sustaining practices.
Located in the SJSU Lurie College of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership, the Transformative Leadership Minor prepares SJSU undergraduate students of all academic backgrounds to enact meaningful change in local, state, and national settings. To learn more and RSVP for our upcoming info session on Tuesday, April 20, at 12pm, visit sjsu.edu/edleadership/academics/undergraduate-minor
What provides you with a sense of belonging at Lurie College? Is it your drive to become a transformative educator, counselor, therapist, school or community leader? A faculty member, advisor, your friends or student groups? The events and culture? Share with us on Instagram by tagging @sjsulurie and using the hashtag #IBelongAtLurieCollege in your caption or email us at brian.cheungdooley@sjsu.edu so we can share uplifting stories from our community. Learn about Alejandra Romo, Department of Communicative Disorders & Sciences undergraduate student, and what provides her with a sense of belonging!
“Lurie College has been a great place to call home here at SJSU because of the strong sense of community I always feel around me. It has opened many doors to many opportunities, connections, and resources and for that I am extremely grateful. I have broken out of my shell and owe that to my program and Lurie College for making every student feel like they’re capable of great things.”
Written by Julia Halprin Jackson, University Writer and Copy Editor
U.S. News & World Report ranked the Connie L. Lurie College of Education as #2 among schools offering graduate programs in education in the California State University system.
The rankings, released March 30, showed a marked improvement over last year, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 277 schools included, the Lurie College was ranked in these four categories:
The ranking methodology scores schools on quality assessment, student selectivity, faculty resources and research activity. U.S. News also assesses incoming students’ preparedness and career outcomes of its alumni.
“Not only did we move ahead in the overall rankings and within the CSU, Bay Area and California, but we also received more points from the reviewers in the administrator/expert assessment score,” said Isabel Vallejo, director of assessment and accreditation for the Lurie College.
“The Lurie College has engaged with the education community more broadly through seminars, special events hosting renowned practitioners in education and educational leadership, and that is allowing the community to see what we as a college have to offer.”
Vallejo explained that the survey requests feedback from professionals, community partners and colleagues, adding that she believes they scored favorably because the Lurie College has expanded its work with PK-12 districts and with community college partners. This is especially evident with the college’s advisory board, which consists of dedicated professionals who offer opportunities for collaboration.
The ranking submission was further strengthened, Vallejo said, because she submitted his data about funded research by faculty as well as related expenditures.
“While we are still a small college compared to some others included in the rankings in terms of enrollment, we are growing, and most importantly, we are having an important impact in our preparation of education professionals who live and work in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley,” she said.
“The growth in our standing in the latest rankings is a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff and community partners, and the excellence of our students and alumni,” said Heather Lattimer, dean of the Lurie College.
“This past year has been incredibly challenging as our college community has navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing acts of racial violence and oppression, wildfires, and political turmoil, all while continuing to create transformative educational opportunities in our college and in the communities that our college serves.
“At the same time, this past year has underscored the importance of the work that we do and confirms the emancipatory stance that our college has taken. We look forward to continuing to grow and amplify this work as we emerge from the pandemic.”
What provides you with a sense of belonging at Lurie College? Is it your drive to become a transformative educator, counselor, therapist, school or community leader? A faculty member, advisor, your friends or student groups? The events and culture? Share with us on Instagram by tagging @sjsulurie and using the hashtag #IBelongAtLurieCollege in your caption or email us at brian.cheungdooley@sjsu.edu so we can share uplifting stories from our community. Learn about Dani Umana, Department of Communicative Disorders & Sciences undergraduate student, and what provides her with a sense of belonging!
“Although this school year has been entirely remote, I have had amazing experiences as a Spartan transfer student. The caring, supportive professors and friends I’ve met through school have made a lasting impact on my personal & academic development. Signing up for the Chicanx/Latinx Student Leadership Retreat and the Lurie College Learning Showcase have helped me get to know several faculty members & students outside of class and fostered a sense of community as well.”
We’re excited to recognize and celebrate our next class of SJSU Lurie College of Education alumni during our Spring 2021 Graduation Celebration, which will take place on Friday, May 28, at 4pm PDT! Graduates will receive additional information via email regarding how to participate. Family and friends of our graduates are invited to watch the ceremony live on our Lurie College YouTube channel at bit.ly/lurie-youtube.
The SJSU Lurie College of Education provides research awards to support students, mentored by a faculty mentor, on a student-initiated research project to support student-faculty collaboration on an on-going or proposed research project related to the student’s major. Learn about our recent student research award recipients – Alaysia Palmer (Child & Adolescent Development), Paulina Medina (Communicative Disorders & Sciences), and Vinson Vũ (Child & Adolescent Development) as they discuss their experiences with their research projects, faculty mentors, and more.
The Lurie College of Education is pleased to offer up to three student-research awards for the 2021-2022 academic year to support students, mentored by a faculty mentor, on a student-initiated research project. These awards are designed to support student-faculty collaboration on an on-going or proposed research project related to the student’s major. Students can receive an award of $2,000 per semester and $4,000 a year. Apply for a research award by Monday, April 12, at sjsu.edu/education/financial-aid.
The SJSU Spartan Scholarship Application portal is now open to those who will be enrolled during the 2021-2022 academic year! Applications for SJSU Lurie College of Education scholarships are due by Saturday, May 1, 2021. Visit sjsu.edu/education/financial-aid to access the link to the SJSU Spartan Scholarship Application portal, watch the recording of our recent scholarship application workshop, and learn about other Lurie College financial aid opportunities.
Watch this video to listen to SJSU Lurie College of Education Dean Heather Lattimer share some reflections on the 1 year anniversary of when Santa Clara County and SJSU first transitioned to a shelter-in-place in response to COVID-19 and share some updates and optimism about returning to SJSU to teach, learn, and work in person as we look ahead to the Fall 2021 semester. The full text of Dean Lattimer’s remarks is available below.
Dear Lurie College students, faculty, and staff,
It has been one year since we left campus due to COVID-19. When we said goodbye a year ago, I suggested that staff and faculty pack up what they would need for a couple of months – just to be on the safe side. It has obviously been a lot more than a couple of months.
As I reflect back on the past year, I am both heartbroken and grateful. I am heartbroken by the incalculable losses that we’ve witnessed – Friends and family members lost to COVID and other illnesses. Job losses and financial insecurities. Exacerbated inequality. Anti-Asian, anti-Black, and anti-immigrant violence targeted toward our BIPOC communities. Isolation and mental health challenges. Wildfire-related disruptions and displacements. Missing celebrations and curtailed rites of passage. These losses are real and significant and we grieve them with you.
But I am grateful too – I have been so deeply impressed by the resilience and commitment of our Lurie College community. During the past year, we’ve witnessed students, faculty, staff, and community partners coming together to support and care for one another. There have been real accomplishments that would have been significant in normal times and are monumental in COVID times. For example – this year 330 undergraduate students in Lurie College have earned the dean’s scholar award, a 50% increase over the previous year. Enrollment in our credential programs grew by 40%. We’ve seen an increase in faculty and staff recognition through awards, grants, and publications. We’ve deepened partnerships and outreach and provided direct support to school districts, community-based organizations, and clinics.
Each and every day I wake up humbled and grateful to be part of a college community that consistently demonstrates care and kindness toward one another and a passionate commitment to our larger mission to prepare and sustain transformative educators, counselors, therapists, school and community leaders. Thank you!
One year later we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel. If vaccination continues to progress and infection rates continue to decline, we anticipate that we will be in a very different context by August. We are planning that most classes will be able to have face-to-face meetings for the Fall 2021 semester. We are anticipating that most field experiences will be in person at our partner sites. College offices will be reopening and I anticipate being back on campus in Sweeney Hall full time by August 1.
We recognize that some people may have health concerns that prevent them from returning to campus and will need accommodation. We also recognize that there have been some real benefits to the online environment and are exploring how effective use of the virtual space can support student learning and strengthen access moving forward. However, I know that many of us are eager to be able to see people face to face and be in community together. As you look to the year ahead, please anticipate that we will be returning to campus. There will likely be the continued need for masking and some social distancing, but it will be so good to be able to see people in person!
Of course, the pandemic isn’t over and I encourage you to continue to wear masks, socially distance, and wash hands. When you are able, please go get the vaccine. Santa Clara County is now in phase 1 b of vaccine distribution, with people working in education and childcare eligible to be vaccinated. This includes all SJSU employees and all Lurie College students who currently are or anticipate returning to school or clinic sites in Spring 2021. I received my first dose at Levi Stadium last weekend. The health care workers and volunteers at the stadium were fantastic. And it felt really good knowing that it represented a huge step toward getting us all back to campus.
Thank you again for all that you do to contribute to the health, well-being, and success of our community. Lurie College is a family of dedicated, talented, smart, creative, passionate, and capable individuals. Together we have not just survived this past year, we have thrived. Thank you for being part of our family. I look forward to seeing you back on campus next semester!
With gratitude —
Heather